Woman, 21, Injured On Fair Ride Undergoes Surgery

A 21-year-old Miami woman underwent surgery to repair a fractured jaw and several lost teeth after she was injured on an amusement ride at the Miami-Dade County Fair.

Nicole Ruiz and her sister, Stephanie, 14, were riding the Niagara Falls on Saturday when the boats jammed together and an operator sent their boat down a slide before releasing water to soften the impact as the boat hit bottom. As a result, Nicole Ruiz hit her head against the boat, said Jack Silar of Southeast Amusements, the company that operates the fair's rides. Stephanie Ruiz suffered minor injuries.

The girls' mother, Norma Ruiz, said she watched in horror.

"The canoe took off like a sling shot, it just took off, that's what I saw," Ruiz said. "What breaks my heart is that she's going to pay every single day of her life."

The ride was shut down for two hours before inspectors from the Florida Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection determined it was safe to restart.

Silar, who blamed the mishap on operator error, said ride workers received additional training on Sunday.

Ruiz underwent surgery late Monday, during which doctors inserted steel plates in both her jaw and cheek.

"She suffered massive facial and dental fractures, and it will take time before she is back to normal," said attorney Richard Wolfson, who is representing the family.

The accident came a year after 17-year old Jessica Riobe was hurled off the Gravitron ride at the fair after a loose bolt caused a panel to fly off as the ride spun. Five others also were ejected.

The teen was in a coma for several weeks after the accident and suffered severe brain damage.

Last week, her family pledged to proceed with a negligence lawsuit against the owners and operators of the fair and the Gravitron ride, which is absent from this year's fair.

"We chose not to go with it because of the ongoing lawsuit, and we won't have the ride back until it's resolved," said Bernadette Kopacz, marketing director for the fair. "Safety is our number one concern, and all rides here have had our inspectors working along with state and independent inspectors check them."

In July, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services filed an administrative complaint against ITRS Inc., the owner of the Gravitron ride, for operating an unsafe ride. Under state law, the company faces a maximum penalty of $5,000.

WTVJ-Ch. 6 contributed to this report.

Ginelle G. Torres can be reached at ggtorres@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5001.